Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-15

reached us ear. ana as 1t reacleQ
Lagona he steadied the form of the
fainting girl in the saddle, and, uttering
wild shout of triumph, wheeled, with q
band of warriors circling in an impene-
trable hedge around him, and, before the
rangers could do more than fire harm
less and scattering volley, was beyond
their reach.
"God OF mercy help me! will rescue
her or die!" shouted Paul, and he turned
his horse and tried to spur alone toward
the Indians. But the exhausted animal
made few mad, desperate plunges, and
then fell to the earth.
sit is OF no use-We can do nothing at
present. Our horses are utterly done
out" said Mccullough, sadly, as he
looked st the miserable father and now
half-maddened lover.
"We shall have all that we can do to
defend ourselves il they dare 10 attack US
here; if they do not it would be madness
yes, worse than msdness-to attack
them on the plains, where they have such
an overwhelming advantage in numbers
and in the condition of their animals"
show is it that their horses have stood
the run so much better than Ours?" asked
Mr.. Delorme.
"Because they have spare horses, one
to each man, and have changed on the
route from time to time. 1t is an old
trick of theirs" replied Mccullough.
"What can we do-What can we do?
Stella must be rescued, or | shall die"
groaned Paul.
"There is but one way to do it," said
the ranger chief. "We must go back to
the settlement if these devils will let US,
ard get more men and then come and tan
them out of existence. They need les
son, and, by the Eternal, they Will have it,
or Ben Mccullough will give up ranging
and turn traitor!"
"And in the meantime what will be-
come of Stella? Lagona, now that she is
in his power again, will have no mercy
upon her"
"Make your mind easy about that"
said the Major. "From the way in which
he has acted so far toward her when she
was in his power, you have no reason to
think that he will use any Otner violence
than to retain her captive. Let me
only get couple of hundred volunteers
together and I'u soon make him glad to
give her up"
Night was now fast drawing on-the
sun was either set or hidden entirely be-
hind the clouds, which, swiftly rising,
threatened terrible storm.
The Indians had retreated mile or SO,
and there seemed to be holding council
together. Darkness came on in little
while, and the Major could not tell
whether the Indians intended to attack
him in the woods or not. Whatever their
intentions might be, he had done the best
he could by way Of preparation to meet
them. His horses, tied firmly together,
had been fastened il a ring to the trees.
Sentinels were posted all around the lit
tie Wood-Which did not cover more than
an acre or two of grOuud-and every man
was on guard. No fires were lighted, no
noise Was made, not sound heard, ex-
cept the painting Of the tired horses and
the heavy breathings of anxious men.
An hour passed-perh2ps mOre-and,
except an occasional yell, nothing could
be heard Of the Indians. The darkness,
now growing very dense, as clouds over
spread the sky, also kept their movements
entirely concealed, and the rangers could
only await their actions in uncertainty
and suspense.
Suddenly deep, heavy, rumbEng sound
was heard, and Mr.. DelOrme and Paul,
who stood close by the Major, supposed
it 10 be the rush of the host OF Indians.
But the old ranger undeceiVed them in a
moment.
cit is rain," said he. ''Let every man
look out for his arms and ammunition.
It's going to pour young Niagara"
1t soon came; and it did pour "young
Niagara" as the major predicted. For
hours the clouds seemed to Yield their
torrents with vehemenCe that was far
from comfortable to either man or beast.
Only by exceeding caution could heparty
preserve their arms and ammunition in a
state fit for use. Their garments were
literally soaked through an through.
All the night long the st9-m continued
without cessation; butupcu the approach
of day it broke, and the sun arose in a
cloudless sky. But in vain did the party
look for trace Of the red men who had
appeared in such countless numbers the
night before. Not one was in sight They
mad passed away in the darkness, and the
storm mostlikely had washed away every
mark of their trail.
Fires were now lighted in the little
grove, the horses turned out to
feed and the men allowed to dry their
clothing and to prepare food, for the
n1S 1Al1uhGlOn W 4C-
turn to theIsettlements acknowledgements
as soon as his horses were rested enough
for travel.
CHAPTER XVII.
By nOontime the horses had rested and
fed enough to be fit again for travel. The
grass, though damp at the roots, was dry
above, with the effect of wind and sun,
and the men, though suffering for want of
sleep, were considerably refreshed with
their rest and food. The Major now Or
dered them to saddle up and make ready
for q start. While this was being done
Paul, whose eyes were continually glanc-
ing away in the direction which he sup
posed had been taken by the Indians, sud-
denly cried out that he saw men on the
prairie-mounted men.
The major instantly sprung into small
tree with his spy-glass, to take an obser-
vation.
"Put out those fres-don't let parti-
Gle of smoke be SEEM" he cried, in a mo-
ment after mis- glance had reached the
party which Paul had first deserted.
"What are they?-Indians, or not?"
asked Paul.
"White men-that rascal; Malerson, and
his gang, Think SAID the major. "Have
all the horses led to the back of the grove,
ard form an ambuscade on this side, men.
If it is them We'll rot 60 back to the set